MGNREGA union to campaign for restarting programme in West Bengal

In an attempt to embarrass the Centre into restarting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in West Bengal, the workers enrolled with the programme across the country will donate one rupee each to cover the wage dues that have not been paid since the scheme was shut down in the State by Centre over corruption complaints in December 2021. Beginning from next week, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act job card holders associated with the Morcha, will be sending in handwritten appeals on a postcard to the Prime Minister’s Office to act on the issue. Citing ground surveys that revealed large scale corruption and violation of the guidelines, Union Ministry of Rural Development in December 2021 invoking Section 27 of the MGNREGA that allows “stoppage of release of funds” in case of “improper utilisation” of funds, has not paid the State funds since. NREGA Sangarsh Morcha convenor Anuradha Talwar points out that this inordinate delay in restarting the programme is a clear violation of the Section 27 of the Act, which states that “appropriate remedial measures for its proper implementation within a reasonable period of time” has to be taken.